So you think you have seen everything there is to see at a baseball stadium? Think again! Mel Glenn's poems will give you new insights into what goes on beyond the ballpark. Seen through his eyes, the sport at once celebrates all there is and ever will be great about America, while reflecting a poignant longing for our lost youth. Never fear. In Glenn's ballpark, hope rules. For no matter the count, each new pitch brings a new challenge. And every player who dares to pick up the bat is a proclamation that we have not given up, that we will never give up. Terry L. Portillo, Author
It's a pleasure to report that Mel Glenn's new book of poems is a home run. My father played baseball with me and I, in turn, have shared that love with my sons. I see myself in quite a few of the poems - taking a girl to Shea Stadium, watching my son play ball. These joys and others are reflected in At Bat. Life lessons and love of the game pour from these poems. At Bat, a labor of love, is highly recommended.
Chuck Hennessy, Noted Baseball Authority
If you think that Mr. Glenn writes about baseball, you are wrong. Baseball is merely the conduit where he writes about life, the lessons we all learn, the regrets we all have, how we deal with aging, loves lost and gained. I urge everyone to read these poems-like all good poetry, you must dive beneath the baseball surface to discover the deeper meanings of life we all struggle with and eventually come to terms with. All of this is wrapped in a deep love for baseball and the many layers of our national sport.
Philip Theibert
About the Author: Mel Glenn is the author of 12 books for young adults, including Jump Ball, Split Image, Who Killed Mr.Chippendale? which was nominated for the Edgar Allen Poe Mystery Award.
Having retired from the New York City public school system in 2001, after teaching 34 years of high school English, he now devotes his time to reading, writing, and speaking across the country in conferences and schools. His wife, Elyse, also retired after a long career as an elementary school teacher. His son, Jonathan, is a producer of a national news organization, and his son, Andrew, is a software engineer.
